Boulder: Blind Judo, wheelchair racing, table tennis are coming to CU Sat.
Feb 8th
2012 Paralympic Experience comes to Boulder this weekend
The Parks and Recreation Department’s EXPAND Paralympic Sport Club will host the 2012 Boulder Paralympic Experience in conjunction with U.S. Paralympics, a division of the U.S. Olympic Committee, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 11, at the University of Colorado Student Recreation Center (Lot 380), UCB 355. Participation is free and open to the public.
The Paralympic Experience introduces people with physical disabilities of all ages to Paralympic sports. In addition to hands-on participation in wheelchair racing, table tennis and judo, the participants will interact with Paralympic athletes and coaches. There will also be educational sessions on Paralympic sports for parents, teachers, coaches, program leaders and rehabilitation specialists.
“EXPAND is excited to host this hands-on event to increase awareness about Paralympic sports,” said Jennifer Heilveil, EXPAND program coordinator. “Participants can meet Paralympic athletes, such as Scott Moore, a three-time U.S. Paralympic medalist in blind judo, and Christina (Ripp) Schwab, a two-time U.S. Paralympic gold medalist in wheelchair basketball, and hear about how sports have improved their overall quality of life. It’s a fun way for kids, potential athletes and people with all abilities to learn more about Paralympic sports.”
“The Paralympic Experience program encourages physical fitness and overall well-being in children with physical disabilities, and we are thrilled to be working with the EXPAND Paralympic Sport Club on this initiative,” said Charlie Huebner, USOC Chief of Paralympics. “Research shows that youth with physical disabilities who participate in physical activity are healthier, more successful in school and have an enhanced quality of life.”
Paralympic Experience events are being held in communities throughout the country. For registration information on the Boulder event, v
Robbery suspect arrested after attempt at convenience store
Feb 7th
Boulder police have arrested a suspect in connection with a robbery that occurred at Boulder Gas, located at 2995 28thSt., at approximately 8:03 p.m. last night, Feb. 6, 2012.
Police arrested 44-year-old Mark Charles Culpepper (DOB 3/15/1967). Investigators believe that Culpepper entered Boulder Gas and asked the clerk to give him some money. When the clerk said he couldn’t, the suspect left the store on foot. The suspect did not display a weapon or make any threats.
Around 9:15 p.m., an officer on routine patrol noticed a male fitting the description of the suspect from the Boulder Gas robbery at the Circle K store at 1480 Canyon. The male seemed intoxicated and said he had a medical condition. After he was checked out by paramedics, he was positively identified by the Boulder Gas clerk as being the suspect from the robbery.
Culpepper faces charges of Robbery, Criminal Attempt and Failure to Appear.
Boulder says pedestrians and bikers are safe, statistically speaking
Feb 7th
City releases 40-month report on biking and walking in Boulder
Between January 2008 and April 2011, only 7.8 percent of all collisions in Boulder involved a bicycle or pedestrian, according to the recently released Safe Streets Boulder report.
The report analyzes more than 8,000 collisions in Boulder – involving motor vehicles, bicycles and pedestrians – over a 40-month period. The main take-away: walking and biking in Boulder is safe, and these modes represent only a small percentage of all collisions reported on city streets.
The report also identifies the top 15 locations with the most motor vehicle collisions (with bicycles and pedestrians), the most common types of crashes and what the city is doing to help decrease collision rates. It also outlines collision demographics and at what time of day most accidents occur.
“Among many things, the report speaks to the safety of Boulder’s transportation system – specifically for walking and biking,” said Director of Transportation for Public Works Tracy Winfree. “Reports like this are powerful because the numbers help to identify successes and areas for improvement, as well as dispel myths.”
For instance, the safety of flashing crosswalks has been an underlying community conversation, but the results show that collisions in these crosswalks account for less than 1 percent of all collisions.
